Contact: Emily Zadny, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, 630-637-5302

Box Score

Sept. 17, 2017 - As the temperature rose to over 80 degrees on Sunday afternoon, the North Central College women's soccer team rose to the challenge in a hard-fought 1-1 tie against the Coe College Kowawks at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium.

North Central was not going to let its opponent, coming into the matchup with a 7-0 record, come away with a victory on its home turf without a fight. The Cardinals made their statement early after Allyson Viederis stole the ball from a Kohawk defender and connected with Lexi Dimovski to put it in the back of the net in the fifth-minute of the game and put North Central ahead with an early 1-0 lead.

The Kohawks only managed one shot from Sydeny Schroder in the 17th minute that was easily saved by Gretchen Frantz. The Cardinals had the momentum of a point on the board and eight shots against their opponent going into the second half.

Coming out of the locker room, the Kohawks turned up the heat on Frantz and the Cardinal defense, taking eleven shots in the second half. As the clock wound down into the final 30-seconds of regulation, it appeared the Cardinals would come away with the victory. A shot from Morgan Petsche sailed high for the Kohawks, leading to a corner kick in the 89th minute. The Cardinal defense was able to clear the ball up the field after an incredible save from Alivia Siudak, but Karlye Waterman stopped its trajectory at the 30-yard line, taking a shot and sending the ball into the back of the net to tie the game 1-1.

This was the first overtime battle for both teams and it was clear that the only way this game was going to end was in a tie, and it did, as both teams held steadfast in the defense, yet challenged with their offense.

Both teams faired equally on paper, despite North Central outshooting its oppenent by a narrow 14-13 margin in the 110-minute battle. Both Kohawk goalie MJ Winterer and Frantz recorded five saves.

Coe's Petsche led all players with six shots, followed by North Central's Dimovski and Anna Brodjian with four apiece. Viederis recorded her second assist of the season.
The outcome of the game could have been far worse if it had not been for the tremendous Cardinal defense led by Siudak, Rachel Kolling, Alex Piron, and Meagan Brakob.

The Cardinals (3-2-1) travel to Whitewater, Wis. to face No. 8 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater on Wednesday, Sept. 20. Game time is set for 7 P.M and links for live in-game coverage can be found HERE.